Amusement device.



W. C. SANFORD.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 12, 1911.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

61 Home.

WILLIAM C. SANFORD, OF KENT, WASHINGTON.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

oosen.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 12, 1911.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911. Serial No. 632,600.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM C. SANFORD, a citizen of the United States, residingat Kent, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in amusement devices and more particularly to a stage illusion, and my object is to provide a device of this character which appears to allow a feat to be accomplished, which although physically impossible, is convincingly and interestingly accomplished.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a receptacle having a visible outlet and also provided with an invisible outlet.

Another object of the invention resides I in providing atransparent receptacle with means for supporting the same above a floor or the like, and a still further object resides in providing means of suspension for the receptacle with means whereby a portion of the same may have communication with the interior of said receptacle.

A still further object is to provide a device which is extremely simple in construction, thereby inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will efiectively carry out the purpose for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a detail perspective of the device suspended above a floor. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, and, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the lower portion of the device.

In carrying out my invention, I shall refer to the drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which 1 indicates a barrel or the like formed of any transparent material, preferably glass, the lower end of which is closed and the up per end of which may be closed or open, as desired, but provided with means whereby the receptacle may be filled with a liquid, and 2 indicates an outlet in the bottom of the receptacle 1, which outlet is provided with a valve for manual operation. Encircling the lower edge of the barrel or receptacle l and secured thereto in any desired manner, is a metallic hoop 3, said hoop being provided with a plurality of integral and laterally disposed pegs 4, said pegs being spaced at equal distances from one another throughout the periphery of said hoop and provided with heads 5 on the free ends thereof. There are preferably four of these pegs provided, and three of the same are formed solid, while the fourth is formed hollow, as disclosed at 4*, the bore thereof registering with a restricted opening 6 in the lower portion of said receptacle or barrel 1, and the enlarged head 5 of this hollow peg is removable, being in threaded engagement with the outer end thereof. An additional metal hoop 7 is encircled about the upper edge of the barrel 1 and secured thereto in any desired manner, said latter hoop being provided with a plurality of laterally disposed ears 8, preferably four in number, which aline, respectively, with the pegs 4 in the lower hoop, and said ears are each provided with an opening 9, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

In order to suspend the barrel or receptacle 1 above the floor, four lines 10 secured in any desired manner from above, are passed through the openings 9 in the ears of the hoop 7 and engaged securely with the laterally extending pegs of the hoop 3. Three of these lines are adapted to be formed of the usual cable, and engaged with the three solid pegs, while the fourth line is formed of a tubing covered with hemp or a twine, such as used in the formation of cables, so as to appear identical with the other three cables, as shown at 11, and this hollow suspension line is engaged with the hollow peg 4, this engagement, however, being identical with the engagement of the lines 10 with the other pegs so as to incur no suspicion. These suspension lines may be mounted in any desired manner from above so that when drawn upon, the recep- 'tacle 1 will be raised from the floor, and the hollow line 11 is connected with the usual or any form of vacuum pump 12, whereby the liquid contents of said receptacle may be drawn therefrom when desired.

This stage illusion which is carried out through the operation of the apparatus hereabove described, is one in which one man is supposed to consume a very large quantity of liquid, of any desired character, contained in the receptacle, and in performing the trick, the receptacle Which is formed of a transparent 'mat'erial, preferably glass, is filled with water before the spectators. This water may be entered inany desired manner, and in order to eliminate any doubt as to the flowing of the water from the receptacle through any device in the floor of the stage, the four lines are dropped from above and engaged with the receptacle, as above described, the hollow line 11 being placed on the hollow 'peg 4 and'this peg and line being preferably disposed in'the rear of the receptacle, with respect to the audience: These lines are placed in engagement with the receptacle by an attendant or' the like and as said hollow line 11 is engaged with the hollow peg 4 the cap 5 of the latter is removed and the end of the line 11 placed thereon, but as this peg is adapted to be in the rear'of the receptacle, this action'may be accomplished without detection, and as the looping of the lines about the pegs may be identical, including the hollow line, all suspicion of this hollow line will be eliminated. The lines are then raised so as to suspend the receptacle a short distance above the floor and a small quantity of the liquid is then allowed to flow through the outlet 2' to show the audience that said liquid may actually flow therefrom, whereupon a man then lies upon the floor with his mouth beneath said outlet 2 of said receptacle, with the apparent ideaof drinking the contents of the same. As he places his mouth to the outlet, he may move the valvetherein to apparently allow the water to flow therefrom and simultaneously the suction or vacuum pump will be started, by a signal from the stage, whereupon, the water from the receptacle will be slowly removed. Asthe receptacle is trans parent, and in View of all spectators, the lowering of the level of the water as the same is being removed therefrom, will be readily observed'by all, and as the actions of the man below the barrel may appear to be those of a man drinking, the audience may be led to believe that heis consuming the contents. This may be continued until the receptacle is entirely emptied or otherwise, as desired. This illusion, which is obviouslyxand physically impossible, may be interestingly performed to afford considerable amusement, and furthermore, the feat may be so well performed as to convince many of the spectators.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a transparent receptacle provided with a visible and an invisible outlet for the contents thereof. It will further be seen that I have provided means on the receptacle whereby the same may be suspend.- ed above the ground, and it will still further be seen that the invisible outlet of the receptacle is adapted to have communication with a portion of the means of suspension. Furthermore, the device is of such simple construction as to be readily and cheaply manufactured and one which is extremely effectual in operation.

lVhat I claim is 1. An amusement device, comprising a transparent receptacle having a visible and an invisible outlet, and means for the suspension of said receptacle above the ground.

2. An amusement device, comprising a transparent receptacle provided with a visible and an invisible outlet, and means for the suspension of said receptacle above the ground, said invisible outlet having communication with a portion of said suspens10n means.

3. An amusement device, comprising a transparent receptacle provided with a visi-' ble and an invisible outlet, and a plurality of suspension lines connected to said receptacle to raise the same above the ground, one of said lines being hollow and in communication with the invisible outlet.

t. An amusement device, comprising a transparent receptacle provided with a visible and an invisible outlet, a plurality of suspension lines connected to said receptacle to raise the same above the ground, one of said lines being hollow and in communication with the invisible outlet, anda suction pump to which said hollow line is also attached.

5. An amusement device, comprising a transparent receptacle provided with a visible and an invisible outlet,a hoop encircling the lower portion of said receptacle provided with a plurality of laterally extending pegs, one of said pegs being hollow and in registration with the invisible opening, and a plurality of lines adapted to engage said pegs andsuspend the receptacle above the ground, one of said lines being hollow and in communication with said hollow peg.

6. An amusement device, comprising a transparent receptacle having a false visible outlet and an actual invisible out-let, a plurality of suspension lines engaged with the lower portion of said receptacle, one of said lines being hollow and in communication with the invisible outlet, and guiding means on the receptacle for said lines.

7 An amusement device, comprising a transparent receptacle provided With a false and a real outlet, said real outlet being invisible, a hoop secured to the lower portion of said receptacle having a plurality of laterally extending pegs, one of said pegs being hollow and in communication With the invisible outlet, a plurality of suspension lines engaged with said pegs, the line in engagement With said hollow peg being also hollow, guiding means for said lines also car- 10 ried by the receptacle, and a suction pump in communication With the hollow line.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM C. SANFORD. Witnesses:

GEOFFREY LoRING, FRANK J HOFFMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i 

